We have definitely entered the hot zone. Even with air conditioning, it is noticeably humid in some parts of the ship, and we have been told that in our port of Malaysia tomorrow it will be 95 F and humid. After our exercise routine, we went to two more lectures: Dr Schrire again speaking on the future of politics and social issues on the planet. Fascinating. One little fact that bears watching and thinking is that Singapore is in danger in the future if the North West Passage opens for shipping, as it will no longer be necessary to use this port as much as today. Last year we saw how Punta Arenas, Chile, once enjoyed a tremendous boom and much wealth in its day, due to the shipping lanes around Cape Horn, which became unnecessary with the opening of the Panama Canal. Boom bust is a cycle that will always be with us, and it is a constant reminder of the change that happens and why none us can be complacent about life as we know it remaining the same. These kinds of geopolitical changes have far reaching effects when they happen. Of course the opening of a north west passage will be the result of climate change which will have its own consequences too. Dr. Schrirer spoke of why predicting the future is so difficult, but nonetheless what trends and possibilities exist.
Then after lunch we attended Bob Daley, an entrepreneur and former Navy Commander who has lived and worked in Malaysia. This country is quite highly educated with an over 96% literacy and only 4% unemployment. Even the IMF classifies it not as a Third World Country, but as an Upper Middle Class one. Surprised us for sure. They made their wealth in rubber, which involves the tapping of rubber trees to collect the latex sap, very like the tapping of maple syrup in Canada. China has surpassed them in this industry now. This is an Islamic nation.
Our big event was another Murder Mystery dinner in the Pinnacle. The theme this time was the Not So Famous Fairy Tale Character Convention, attended by those who never made it to Grimm's Fairy Tales or to Disney fame and fortune. We really had a fun evening and enjoyed the Cruise Director's clever and funny script. The food of course is excellent and it includes way too much wine of fine vintage.
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